Top stops for slide fasteners

ABSTRACT

Top stops for use in a slide fastener of the type having a continuous coupling element of synthetic resin material arranged longitudinally on one surface of each stringer tape. The top stops, which also are made of nylon or like synthetic resin, are fused to the respective stringer tapes at the upper extremities of the continuous coupling elements, in such a manner that a stop portion and a guide portion are unitarily molded on each top stop. The stop portions serve to limit the movement of the slider in the fastener closing direction, whereas the guide portions function to guide the slider into correct abutting contact with the stop portions. The stop portion and the guide portion of each top stop are united integral with several of the connective portions, disposed away from the coupling heads, of each continuous coupling element.

United States Patent Takahashi et al.

[ Sept. 23, 1975 TOP STOPS FOR SLIDE FASTENERS 75 Inventors: KiheiTakahashi, Uozu; Shunji (flak Akashi Kurobe, both of Japan Attorney,Agent, or F1rmBucknam and Archer [73] Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo KabushikiKaisha,

Tokyo Japan [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Dec. 27, 1974 Top stops for use ina slide fastener of the type having a continuous coupling element ofsynthetic resin mate- [zl] Appl 536827 rial arranged longitudinally onone surface of each stringer tape. The top steps. which also are made of[30] Foreign Application Priority Data nylon or like synthetic resin.are fused to the respec- Dee. 29 1973 Japan 49 3l67[U] tive stringertapes at the upper extremities of the continuous coupling elements, insuch a manner that a 52 US. Cl. 24/205.11 F Stop Portion and guide Pomnare unitarily molded 51 Int. Cl A44b 19/36 On each P stop- The Stopportions serve to limit the [58] Field of Search 24/205.11 F, 205.11 Rmovement of the slider in the fastener Closing direction, whereas theguide portions function to guide the [56] References Cited slider intocorrect abutting contact with the stop por- UNITED- STATES PATENTStions. The stop portion and the guide portion of each 2 3 5 05 7/1943 CH 24/205 [1 R top stop are united integral with several of the connecattive portions, disposed away from the coupling heads, 3,482,292 l2/1969Frohlich 24/205.ll F of each Continuous p g clement FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1,204,745 9/1970 United Kingdom 24/20511 F 2 Clams 3 D'awmgF'gures V r 7 28\ 91k 28a 2L 27 22 22 30 30 i 2 Why/ l 1 7\"\ 1 TOPSTOPS FOR SLIDE FASTENERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates generally to slide fasteners and more specifically to acooperative pair of top stops for arresting the movement of a slider ina fastener closing direction on a pair of fastener stringers. Even morespecifically, the invention is directed to top stops for use in a slidefastener of the type having a continuous coupling element which is madeof an elongate synthetic resin filament and which is stitched orotherwise secured longitudinally to one surface of each stringer tape.

According to an example of known top stops for slide fasteners, theendmost fastener element on each stringer tape is fused and deformedinto such shape as to arrest the movement of the slider. It is alsoknown to fuse film-like piecesof thermoplastic material onto therespective stringer tapes. generally in V-shaped arrangement. Theseprior art top stops are mostly not of sufficient strength to resist thethrust of the slider that acts repeatedly thereon in the use of theslide fastener. Such top stops are therefore relatively easy to be broken or otherwise rendered inoperable or are not so endurable as they arerequired to be.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore. an object of this inventionto provide improved top stops which are so constructed and arranged asto well withstand the thrust of the slider acting thereon throughout theprolonged period of use of the slide fastener.

Another object of the invention is to provide top stops so constructedand arranged that the slider can be positively guided to itspredetermined topmost position on the pair of fastener stringers.

The top stops according to the invention are intended for use in a slidefastener of the type having a continuous coupling element which is madeof a synthetic resin filament and which is arranged on one surface ofeach stringer tape along its longitudinal edge lying adjacent the othertape. The continuous coupling element is so shaped as to provide alongitudinal row of coupling heads adapted to engage between the similarcoupling heads of the complementary coupling element. and a longitudinalrow of connective portions remote from the coupling heads. V

The top stops, which are of synthetic resin material, are fused to therespective stringer tapes at the upper extremities of the continuouscoupling elements. Each top stop integrally comprises a stop portionagainst which the slider abuts at the end of its fastener closingmovement, and a guide portion which. as the slider draws near the end ofthe fastener closing movement.

enters relatively into the slider body to guide the slider which likereference characters denote corresponding parts of the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a partial top plan view of aslide fastener incorporating a preferred form of the top stops accordingto the invention, in which the slider is shown in its topmost positionon the pair of fastener stringers and in which the front wing of theslider is cut away to clearly reveal the relations between the topstops. the fastener stringers and the slider;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the fastener stringers shown inFIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line III-III inFIG/I.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. I best illustrates thegeneral organization of a slide fastener for which the improved topstops of this invention are particularly well adapted."lhe illustratedslide fastener comprises a pair of stringers I0 and a slider II. Eachstringer It) has a tape I2 with a continuous coupling element 13arranged along one of its longitudinal edges opposed to thecorresponding edge of the other stringer tape. 7 y A Each continuouscoupling element I3 is substantially in the form of a coil or helix of asynthetic resin filament and is secured to one surface only of eachstringer tape 12 by a line of stitching 1.4 with the aid of a coremember 15 extending longitudinally.throughthe coupling element. Thecontinuous coupling element 13 comprises a series of uniformlyintercsticcd coupling heads arranged along one of the longitudinal edgesthereof for engagement between the similar coupling heads of thecomplementary coupling element, and a series of connective portions 17arranged along the other longitudinal edge of the coupling element.

The slider 11, slidable along the pair of continuous coupling elements13 in either direction to open or. close the fastener, has a bodycomprising a front wing 18 and a back w ing I9 which are interconnectedby a web 20, as will be seen by referring also to FIG. 3. The wings I8and I9 and the web 20define the usual Y shaped guide channel throughwhich the coupling cle ments I3 are adapted to pass. The front wing I8has a pair,of side flanges 2| which serve as guides for the.

coupling elementsv It will be noted from FIG. I that the side flanges 21include divergent portions 22 adjacent the .llarcd top end 23 of theslider body and parallel portions 24 adjacent the contracted bottom end25 of the slider body.

The general organization of the illustrated slide fastener. as so fardescribed, has been well known in the art and constitutes. by itself. nofeature of this invention.

According to the novel concepts of the invention, a cooperative pair ofstructurally similar top stops 26 are fixedly mounted on the respectivestringers 10 at or ad;

j acent their opposed longitudinal edges 'and at theupper extremities ofthe respective continuous coupling elements 13. For the formation ofeach top stop 26. a chip orsheet of nylon or like synthetic resinmaterial. may be placed in the specified position on each stringer 10.so as to partly overlie several of the connective portions 17. includingthe topmost one, of the continuous coupling element [3. The chip or thelike is then fuscdunder application of pressure. as by the knownhigh-frequency or ultrasonic welding techniques. in such a fashion thatthe resulting top stop 26 envelops and' unites integral with the severalconnective portions l7 of the coupling element.

Each top stop 26 thusvmolded and fused to the stringer tape is. formed.at the same time. with a guide portion 27. a stop portion 28 and a flatbase por tion 29. The guide portion 27 is substantially in the shape ofa right-angled trianglewhen seen in a plan view as shown in FIG. I. witha sloping guide edge or surface 30 located remote from the elementcarrying edge of the stringer tape 12. and generally tapers in adirection away from the top end of the fastener. The stop portion 28 issubstantially rectangular in shape. is greater in height and in adimension in the transverse direction ofth'e tape (see FIG. 2). and islocated immediately on the fastener top-end side of the guide portion27. mentioned previously. these guide portion 27 and stop portion 28 ofeach top stop 26 envelop and unite integralwith thc several connectiveportions 17. including the topmost one. of the corresponding continuouscoupling clement l3 W lt \vill be observed from a consideration ofFlGS.l andy2 that at least thc topmost coupling head of each continuouscoupling element 13. which head is transversely aligned with the stopportion 28 of each top stop 26. is removed from the coupling element. Itis unne"es s' ry to remove the coupling heads transversely aligned withthe guide portions 27 of the top stops.

hioperation. \vlien the slider ll slides along the continuous couplingelements 13 on its fastener closing movement to the topmost position onthe pair ofstringers 'lil. the guide portions 27 of the topstops 26first enterfrclatively into the slider body through its flared top end23. As the divergent portions 22 of the side flanges 2l of the sliderbody slide along the respective sloping guide edges 30 of the guideportions 27. the slider 11 can be positively guided to its predeterminedtopmost position shown in Fl(iS. l and 3. in which position the topedges oftlie side flanges 2| abut against the respective stop portions28 of the top stops.

It may be worth mentioning that since the stop portions 28 of the topstops 26 are by far the most conspicuous members on the stringer tapes12 because oftheir extra height and transverse dimension. theirpositions on the stringer tapes can be visually ascertained in a simpleand accurate manner. so that a border line 28: extending transverselyand defined between the guide portion 27 and the stop portion 28 of eachtop stop 26 serves as a reference point in correctly positioning the topstop 26 \vithrespect to a preceding or first coupling .element 13a oneach of the stringer tapes in the assem- 'bling process of slidefasteners.

Having thus described the invention, it is clear that the objects asstated above. either explicitly or otherwise. have been fully achievedin a simple and practical manner. However, the specific forms andarrangements of the various parts of the slide fastener as hereindisclosed are purely by way ofexample and not'ofa limitative nature. Theinvention. therefore, should and is intended to be construed broadly andin a manner consistent with the fair meaning or proper scope of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a slide fastener of the type comprising a pair of stringer tapeseach having a continuous coupling element arranged on one surfacethereof so as to extend along its one longitudinal edge adjacent theother stringer tape. said eoupling'elcment being made of a syntheticresin filament and including a series of coupling heads arranged alongone longitudinal edge of the coupling element and a series of connectiveportions arranged along the other longitudinal edge of the couplingelement. said coupling heads being adapted to engage between the similarcoupling heads of the other coupling element. and a slider slidablealong said coupling elements and including a body having a flared topend and a contracted bottom end. said slider body ineluding a front wingand a back wing which are interconnected by a web located at said flaredtop end. said front wing of said slider body having a pair of sideflanges. the combination thereof with a pair oftop stops made ofsynthetic resin material and fused to said stringer tapes at the upperextremities of said coupling elements. respectively. each of said topstops integrally comprising a stop portion against which the top edge ofone of said side flanges of said front wing abuts when said slider ismoved along said continuous coupling ele ments to its predeterminedtopmost position on the slide fastener. and a guide portion which issubstantially in thc shape of a right-angled triangle as seen in a planview and which generally tapers in a direction away from the top end ofthe slide fastener. said guide por-. tion being adapted to enterrelatively into said slider body through said flared top end when saidslider is moved close to said predetermined topmost position and henceto guide said slider to said predetermined topmost position. said stopportion of each top. stop being substantially rectangular in shape andbeing greater than said guide portion both in height and in a dimensionin a transverse direction ofthe stringer tape. said stop portion andsaid guide portion of each top stop enveloping and uniting integral withseveral of said connective portions. including the topmost one. of thecorresponding coupling element. I

2. The combination of claim I. wherein at least the topmost one of saidcoupling heads of each coupling element. which is transversely alignedwith said stop portion of each top stop. is removed from the couplingelement.

1. In a slide fastener of the type comprising a pair of stringer tapeseach having a continuous coupling element arranged on one surfacethereof so as to extend along its one longitudinal edge adjacent theother stringer tape, said coupling element being made of a synthetiCresin filament and including a series of coupling heads arranged alongone longitudinal edge of the coupling element and a series of connectiveportions arranged along the other longitudinal edge of the couplingelement, said coupling heads being adapted to engage between the similarcoupling heads of the other coupling element, and a slider slidablealong said coupling elements and including a body having a flared topend and a contracted bottom end, said slider body including a front wingand a back wing which are interconnected by a web located at said flaredtop end, said front wing of said slider body having a pair of sideflanges, the combination thereof with a pair of top stops made ofsynthetic resin material and fused to said stringer tapes at the upperextremities of said coupling elements, respectively, each of said topstops integrally comprising a stop portion against which the top edge ofone of said side flanges of said front wing abuts when said slider ismoved along said continuous coupling elements to its predeterminedtopmost position on the slide fastener, and a guide portion which issubstantially in the shape of a right-angled triangle as seen in a planview and which generally tapers in a direction away from the top end ofthe slide fastener, said guide portion being adapted to enter relativelyinto said slider body through said flared top end when said slider ismoved close to said predetermined topmost position and hence to guidesaid slider to said predetermined topmost position, said stop portion ofeach top stop being substantially rectangular in shape and being greaterthan said guide portion both in height and in a dimension in atransverse direction of the stringer tape, said stop portion and saidguide portion of each top stop enveloping and uniting integral withseveral of said connective portions, including the topmost one, of thecorresponding coupling element.
 2. The combination of claim 1, whereinat least the topmost one of said coupling heads of each couplingelement, which is transversely aligned with said stop portion of eachtop stop, is removed from the coupling element.